Nicholas Bradlee Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Nicholas Bradlee, age 89, of Rochester Hills, Michigan, died on July 1, 2021. Nicholas was preceded in death by his first wife Beatrice Bonillo Bradlee, and is survived currently by Linda Patterson Workman. Nicholas is survived by his children David Bradlee (Cheryl), Christopher Bradlee (Heather), and Marla Mercado-Bradlee (Enrique). He is fondly remembered by his seven grandchildren: Matthew, Elaine, Erika, Olivia, Ana-Cristina, Carolina, and Colin. Nicholas achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force and served in combat during the Korean War. Nicholas earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Waynesburg College. While there he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He earned a DPM at Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. He was a practicing podiatrist in Warren and Troy Visitation is at Dryer Funeral Home in Holly, Michigan. Sunday, July 11th from 2-9 P.M. The funeral is at 1 pm on July 12th at Dryers'. A ceremony, with full Military Honors, will be performed at 2:30 P.M. at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, MI. www.dryerfuneralhomeholly.com Tell Me Why, Heroes Have to Die A tribute to Dr. Nicholas (Bubuli) Bradlee Great Lakes National Cemetery, July 12, 2021 Written by: Christopher A. Bradlee Yes, it is true that heroes have to die. As much as that hurts to say, it’s why we gather here this afternoon and pay honor to another hero who will be laid to rest in these hallowed grounds of the Great Lakes National Cemetery. The property for this cemetery was donated by Bryson Dexter Horton, a Spanish-American War veteran-turned-industrialist who invented the "Square D" switch. Horton's invention dramatically improved electrical safety, by encasing the switch in steel and protecting users from the live electrical current. It is notable that veterans continue to be heroes, even after they leave military service. There are many aspects of my father’s life that I think were heroic, and include his dedication to family, and of course his military service where he was a combat veteran of the Korean War. In the few moments that I have I would like to highlight his commitment to education as a path out of poverty and his heroic efforts to rise with education. Dr. Bradlee grew up as the youngest of five children in an impoverished home in Brownsville, Pennsylvania with a loving mother, brothers and sisters; but he became estranged from his stern father. With his problems at home, my dad left High School and began to run with a local street gang. His gang nickname was “Blue Can”, and while he certainly had the academic ability to graduate High School, he chose the “Streets” as his classroom instead. My father told me many times “Being book smart helps a lot… but being street smart keeps your ass alive…” The streets are tough, and dad got wise and decided that the United States Air Force was a better place…. so, he enlisted. Fresh off the streets and unsure of where he was going, fortune smiled upon him…. he was assigned to a Squadron in the 27th Special Operations Wing where the First Sargent was a man named Delmar Wells. “Delmar got my head right and I began to see the importance of education” …. is how dad would describe Delmar’s mentorship. For the next 18 months Delmar told dad what to do…and dad was smart enough to follow along; and shortly thereafter “Blue Can” was no more, and Nicholas Bubuli achieved the rank of Staff Sargent. I do not have the time to go into further details of Dad’s combat in the Korean War, and how he went to Waynesburg College after he was honorably discharged from the Air Force; where he earned his Bachelors of Science in Chemistry while working summers in the local Steel Mills….and how he then enrolled at Kent State University in Kent Ohio to work on his Master’s Degree while teaching High School chemistry in Ravenna, Ohio…and how he met my mother, Beatrice, at Kent State, and upon graduating, with my mother’s urging and guidance, he enrolled into the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine….and how he had a 40+ year career as a physician specializing in foot and ankle surgery, where he helped pioneer less invasive procedures to restore Achilles tendon injuries. He also served multiple terms on the Board of the Michigan Podiatric Association, include several terms as its President. However, time does allow me to say that my father would credit both his “Street Smarts” and his “Academics” as the means by which he rose from poverty. My father would say that “the beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.” Understanding of the value of education is something that drew my father to Linda. My father has had a supportive, loving, relationship with Linda and she has been his supporter and gave him hope, especially in these last few years; and together they have been able to watch their kids get their education and now are seeing their grandchildren graduate from High School and College. In conclusion, we gather here today in remembrance of another fallen hero. A hero who showed how an education can take someone from a street-smart kid called “Blue Can” to a respected physician and surgeon known as “Dr B.” I would like to end this tribute to my father by reminding all of us that, yes, Heroes die, but….. Don't forget who your heroes are, what they mean to you, and why they mean that to you. “Rest in Peace, Sargent Bubuli”

Nicholas Bradlee

November 3, 1931 - July 1, 2021